Inquest into baby girl who died after getting trapped on lip of her ‘dangerous’ cot hears manufacturer blamed her toddler SISTER for death

Bednest makers callously implied the tot's sister had dragged her on top of the rail and "caused her death"

BY HOLLY CHRISTODOULOU

16th December 2016, 7:24 pm

Updated: 17th December 2016, 3:59 am

A BABY girl died after becoming trapped on the lip of her top-of-the-range cot - but the manufacturer cruelly suggested her toddler sister could have killed her.

A coroner ruled seven-week-old Grace Roseman was tragically killed when she lifted her head over the foldable side of her "dangerous" Bednest cot in April last year.

PA:Press Association

Baby Grace was found by her mother Esther - who said she immediately started screaming

PA:Press Association

Dad Gideon, pictured holding Grace, told the inquest he immediately rushed to get his baby girl to hospital

But lawyers for the cot maker implied that a third party must have been involved in Grace's death because she was too young to lift her head over the side.

Speaking after senior coroner Penelope Schofield gave a conclusion of accidental death on the final day of the inquest at County Hall, in Horsham, West Sussex, lawyers representing the devastated family said Bednest had callously tried blaming Grace's toddler sister for the tragedy.

In a statement from Fieldfisher, the law firm representing the Roseman family, Jill Greenfield said that the coroner had "rejected allegations made by experts instructed by Bednest that Grace's toddler sister had potentially dragged Grace onto the top of the rail of the cot and caused her death".

PA:Press Association

Grace's mum Esther speaking after the inquest

PA:Press Association

Esther and Grace's dad Gideon at the inquest as lawyer Jill Greenfield read out a statement

She added: "Mr and Mrs Roseman were deeply affected by this untruth.

"Grace died more than a year-and-a-half ago and the Rosemans have had to live through hell waiting to confirm what happened - that the NCT Bednest cot caused the death of their beloved baby girl.

"During that time, they have also had to fight unfounded allegations put forward by experts instructed by Bednest that Grace's toddler sister was in some way potentially responsible for Grace's death.

"Gideon and Esther are bewildered, shocked and deeply hurt by the suggestion that their other daughter could possibly be implicated in Grace's death.

"They always knew that the Bednest cot killed their baby.

"Rather than force the Rosemans to undergo cross-examination at this inquest, Bednest could and should have apologised to the family, something that still hasn't happened.

"The Rosemans finally feel that justice had been done in Grace's name.

"They desperately hope that no other parents will ever have to go through a similar tragedy."

SWNS:South West News Service

The crib that Grace Roseman died in

Mum Esther, who discovered her baby daughter's lifeless body, added: "Please don't buy this cot, or even use it second-hand.

"And considering what you have just heard, I would question whether you should anything form this company whatsoever."

Her lifeless body was discovered by heartbroken mum Esther, who screamed "Grace is dead" as the horror unfolded on April 9, 2015.

Four paediatricians discussed the safety of the Bednest at County Hall in Horsham, West Sussex, today and whether Grace would have been able to prop her head over the 7cm lip on the side.

SWNS:South West News Service

Dad Gideon at the inquest into his daughter's death

Dr Betty Hutchon, a paediatric occupational therapist, said: "I was horrified when I saw the crib because of the bar going across.

"Seeing the height of the bar, and knowing what babies can do, I could see that the bar holding the side in that position would be a very big hazard if they baby fell on it."

She added: "For me, it seems very dangerous for a baby and the design is flawed and needs to be changed."

The cot, which was given to the devastated family by a friend, is able to be folded at the side, allowing mothers easier access to their children.

The company had suggested in marketing material that mums are able to leave their children unattended while the side was folded down, but the instructions - which Esther did not have access to - advised against this.

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The inquest had also heard how Bednest "fundamentally disagree" with the conclusion that the product was dangerous.

But the hearing was told by Trading Standards that it failed to comply with basic safety instructions after being tested by CPSA, Consumer Product Safety Advice.

Bednest apparently agreed to contact their customer base and provide a 'modification kit' - which included two screws and a screwdriver to prevent the side of the cot wall from being half-folded - but declined to offer a full-on recall of the product.